This is Broken have posted an entry from me! – the sign I took earlier this year while having dinner with Danny and Rich.
My Louis Vuitton Dental Clinic post link.
Still rockin
Tag: Funny
-
This is Broken
-
Duck : Be Pure
I haven’t put a post up in a little while, so i think it is worth getting it running again with a classic ‘Scooter English’ post. I should also point out that there is a large collection of other ones at the link here.
Duck – Be Pure – 125 SP – To resist drugs and violence
And while I am at it – it is essential to show this image from a recent trip to a waterfall in Wulai with Rich. In(s)ane. -
Spotted
I need to kick start my blogging again so the best way to do this is to simply upload some photos. So, here are some amusing things that I have seen on my travels of late.
A labrador seen near Danshui – shaved clean of any dignity
Dad bought this in Hong Kong … amazing
On the way home, I snatched this photo of a guy who could hardly turn he had so much foam loaded onto his scooter
One of the local tradesmen specialises in brooms and hats and taps and bowls. As you begin to tune into Chinese you begin to hear the sounds of ‘buo li’ (glass) and other household items blairing (is that a new verb?) out of pre-recorded loud-hailers
Taiwanese people like food. Taiwanese people like weapons. Taiwanese people like food shaped like weapons. (stretching the truth for the benefit of the blog) -
Radio Controlled Kid
Spot Dad with the remote -
YingGe
Erin and I had a day trip to the pottery town of YingGe to the south of Taipei. The town was pleasant and worthy of a day trip, but much better were these two photos that made me smile!
It’s a GOLD scooter! – a 35th Anniversary model, apparently
Waiting at the platform for the train back to Taipei, it was tempting to try transcending. Luckily, this sign warned me not to! -
Taichung
Now the weather is finally showing signs of permanently improving, I am making a more concerted effort to visit more places outside of Taipei. I found that my rate of discovering new and interesting things in Taiwan dropped off markedly after the first year here, as a result I suppose of developing a routine, and frankly finding things more ‘normal’, if that is possible here.
Never the less, I took some time out to go down to Taichung – Taiwan’s third city – and see Sun Moon Lake. Taichung is an interesting place. I have the feeling that because it is not the original seat of power (Tainan) or the second city (Kaosiung) it somehow has a more defiant spirit about it and clamours to define its own identity in the face of the ‘international’ city Taipei. You can see this in the way people talk about it and indeed in some of the street fashion that I found.
Kaosiung’s largest tower, and site of a rather big fire earlier in the year … why do all cities have to have one tower with a UFO on the top. Was it a conspiracy in the 1970s? I am positive there is a revolving restaurant up there.
Rather a cool little coffee shop hidden away in a restored old building (hopefully this will happen more). Stones on the floor. 1000 artistic ideas on the walls – seems like a real struggle to define its identity, but I am happy that places like this are popping up.The first thing to know that amongst foreigners, the name is ‘Sin City’. Multiple large complexes of lap dancing / spicy lady clubs emerge out of the mist of Taiwanese concrete. The style certainly borrows from Las Vegas or Atlantic City – a ‘Pastiche of a Pastiche’. The result is like architectural Chinese Whispers, and like looking at Europe or the Middle East through a lens … through a lens. Somewhat distorted!
Sadly, with my jaw on the floor the whole time, I neglected to take any photos. I shall have to sort some out.
On to Sun Moon Lake – one of the prettier destinations in Taiwan. Somehow we avoided the tourist hordes, but I imagine this is hell in the summer time.
Betel nut seller. Shaken not stirred.
GQ: Man of the day award
Reminiscent of Lago Maggiore in Italy?
… the kids agree
Flotilla of stuff
A nice wall -
Blue Van Man
The ubiquitous Blue Van is a Taiwan icon.
Adidas, with their recent boutique store opening in Jhongxiao Dunhua have decorated one in a way surely only possible on this one Pacific island. Great fun.
My Adidas
Box Fresh -
Valentines 101
I have a love/hate relationship with Taipei 101 – the world’s tallest and most over-decorated building. On the one hand I like the fact that it is unashamedly Asian and Chinese in style, but frankly I think that is no excuse for the heavy handed detailing and curious lack of height perspective as a result of the inverted ‘bamboo’ sections – which somebody pointed out look rather like a pile of Chinese food take-out boxes with some chop sticks stuck in the top. Perceptive.
The one thing I do quite like about it, however, is the way the authorities use the faces of the building to communicate with the world beyond. Major events like New Year’s Eve or Valentines Day become decorated in lighting down the side. It rather opens a conversation, I suppose, with the city.
In Love with 101As a post-script to this entry, I heard an interesting story about Taipei 101. The French free-climber that scales all the major buildings in the world without the aid of satefy equipment, arrived in Taipei to attempt 101. He, very reasonably, asked that if the building could be cleaned before the event – grease and dirt build up is obviously a hazard. The response was nagative. He then asked if it was possible to clean a small strip up the side, and was met with the same answer. It turns out that the building is simply not cleaned! Sadly, I think this sums up the attitude towards the built environment in Taiwan.
-
What a Trip
Rich, Nick and I stepped out for a micro road trip away from the big smoke. We spotted a couple of nice things on the way that are worthy of a quick post.
Prohibited: ‘yes’ if you need to ask
Cool mini-temple roof near Mucha – tea capitol of Taiwan -
Louis Vuitton Dental Clinic
Louis Vuitton moves into the dental health care industry
